Improvement in devices for securing fence-wire to posts



" TE STATES PATENT MORTIMER S. HARSHA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASS IGNOR TO MARK Gr.

' .GOLLSON, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR SECURING FENCE-WIRE TO POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 83,299, dated October 17, 1876; application filed July 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTIMER S. HAR- SHA, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Fasteners for Fence-Wires, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the manner of fastenin g the fence-wire to the posts, the main object being to prevent its slipping through the fastening.

The most common method of securing the wires to the posts is by driving staples over the wire and into the posts, and the only security against slipping obtainable is by forcing in the staple to such a degree that the wire is embedded partially in the wood of the post. This may be effectual for a time, but the continual movement of the wire, slight though it may be, will sooner or later wear away the wood, so that all resistance to its slipping is overcome.

The present invention consists in substituting for the staple a sheet-metal piece bent to a U form and slipped over the wire, and perforated with a slot of sufficient length so that a nail may be inserted through the ends thereof and under thewire, thus surrounding the wire upon all sides with metal bearings, and securing it to the post by the same nail which passes through the ends of the slot. 1

' These and the other branches of my invention will be fully understood from the accompan yin g' drawing, in which- Figure l is a view of my improved fastening when in the flat, and Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, front and side views of the same-when in position on the wire and secured to the post, like letters of reference indicating like parts wherever used in said figures.

In said drawing, A represents the fastening, which is cut from sheet metal, and perforated with the slot at, as shown in Fig. 1. This slot is of such a length that, when the fastening is doubled over the wire 0 of the fence, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, there will be room enough for the insertion of the nail B through the ends a c of the slot and under the wire.

The nail B should be of such suitable length that it may serve not only to confine the wire in the fastening in the manner just pointed out, but also to secure the fastening to the post D by driving it into the post after the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This will be clearly understood from the drawing without further description.

The slot a I prefer to provide with lateral enlargements a a whereby the fencewire may be left unconfined immediately over the nail or wedge B for a sufficient distance to permit it to yield to the wedge action of the nail, thus forming in such exposed portion a bight, c, as seen in Fig. 2. This bight serves to hold the wire securely against any strain to which it is apt to be subjected, as will be obvious.

My device, it will benoticed, not only secures the wire to the post, but also holds it so firmly that it cannot slip either way through the fastening. It follows from this that, should a break occur in the wire at any point, no portion of the fence beyond the two posts embracing the broken part will be afiected thereby. It is, however, optional with the user to fasten the wire thus firmly, because the fastener may he used simply to sustain the wire if that only is desired.

The fastener, being formed of sheet metal, may be struck by dies, and manufactured with verylittle expense. When doubled over, preparatory to being slipped upon the wire,

' a form which will be given it by the manufacturer,-it may be'applied to the fence by any farm-handwith the aid of any ordinary hammer.

Before being placed upon. the wire, the fastener should be bent to a U simply, leaving sufficient space between the ends so it may be readily put over the wire. The forcing in of the wedge or nail will naturally bring the ends together, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is The fence-wire fastening, consisting of a folded sheet-metal plate, having a bight taken centrally therefrom, and adapted to be pressed down upon the fence-wire and secured to a post by a nail or wedge driven through the bight and into the post so as to form a tightening-wedge between the wire and the plate,

substantially as specified.

MORTIMER S. HARSHA.

Witnesses:

M. G. OoLLsoN, Enw. S. EVARTS. 

